Hey y'all,
This is my most recent (4th I think?) article on The Gay Stage's website and I am now apparently the Featured Playwright!!!
http://www.thegaystage.co.uk/politics/lgbt-communities-are-they-inclusive-or-exclusive-getting-the-balance-right
Thanks for reading!
Lucy xxx
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Grandma Found Grinder
Just picked my grandma up from her cruise which she went on with two gay men.
Me: How was your holiday grandma?
Grandma: Well very interesting. Do you know what gay men can do now on their phone?
Me: Uh...?
Grandma: Chris showed me. It's this thing called Grinder.
Me: He showed you Grinder?
Grandma: Yes. Just the picture on it. Not his face.
Me: oh
Me: How was your holiday grandma?
Grandma: Well very interesting. Do you know what gay men can do now on their phone?
Me: Uh...?
Grandma: Chris showed me. It's this thing called Grinder.
Me: He showed you Grinder?
Grandma: Yes. Just the picture on it. Not his face.
Me: oh
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Gay Stage - Interview with Brian Merriman, Founder of the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
Hey all,
This is my third article for The Gay Stage on the topic of taking Rachael's Cafe to the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival and the Pink Fringe in Brighton. In this article I interview Brian Merriman, founder of the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
http://www.thegaystage.com/2012/04/in-conversation-with-brian-merriman-why.html
This is my third article for The Gay Stage on the topic of taking Rachael's Cafe to the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival and the Pink Fringe in Brighton. In this article I interview Brian Merriman, founder of the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
http://www.thegaystage.com/2012/04/in-conversation-with-brian-merriman-why.html
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Acting and Watching: In which I fall back in love with the theatre
Sometimes I forget I want to be an actress. Or, more honestly, I convince myself that I no longer wish to be an actress. Because quite frankly it's a pain in the ass. I've barely been out of university more than a year and I'm already fed up with a dearth of auditions, people ignoring my emails, no stable income and so little control over my potential career path in comparison with other professions. And to be honest I've made a fairly good go of relinquishing the acting bug over the path couple of years.
I've been running a comedy club* for which, I like to think, I pick out the best of the up-and-coming comics on the circuit to perform in our shows. I'd say I'm pretty good at working out who's going to do well, many of the acts we booked a couple of years ago after seeing them at open mic nights have since gone on to perform in high profile television showcases, been signed by major agents or won comedy competitions, and doing this casting agent-esque work and producing the shows briefly filled my need for taking part in theatrical ventures.
I've also been writing for online magazines and for the theatre. My debut play Rachael's Cafe was premiered last year at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011 and it was an amazing feeling to see my words being spoken aloud by a talented actor and hearing the audience's response there in the moment. I've always been primarily a text based actor with the highest respect for the written word and it's authors, so being on the other side of the script has been an unforgettable experience.
I'm not belittling my past year or so. I've certainly learnt a lot, experienced plenty of ups and downs both in my professional and personal lives and I feel like I've completed the equivalent of a two year theatre and performance course in what I've learnt from the actors and comedians I've worked with regarding writing, acting, the voice, the body, determination, the evolution of material and the artist and too much more to mention. In terms of my own career progress and financial security I feel like I'd be a lot better off continuing down the path I've been paving these last couple of years. After a while, however, watching others progressing in their performance careers is making me feel a little antsy. That's how I realised I wasn't going to be happy without setting foot on a stage again.
Nothing has confirmed this more to me than tonight's experience at the Wyndham's Theatre. I went to see The King's Speech (The Play) and was totally captivated from start to finish. I haven't actually seen the film yet so I went knowing only the actual historical facts behind the play and with no preconceptions or lingering memories of Colin Firth's brand of stuttering King. It's really a very gentle play, it has plenty of humour and perhaps a little too much of a farcical double act courtesy of Winston Churchill and Cosmo Lang, but overall it's a very British tale about loyalty, duty, love and friendship. There were no big musical numbers, no startling technical effects, shocking revelations or interactive moments. Nothing that -for better or for worse- characterises a lot of the theatre making waves on the scene at the moment. A combination of a relatively simple set, clean and effective directing, a beautifully written script and touchingly realised characters kept myself, my Grandmother and the hundreds of people filling the theatre around us utterly enthralled.
Yes, when I'm sitting at home printing out CV after CV, waiting for the telephone to ring, watching others play roles I'm certain were written solely for me and wondering if I'll ever be able to afford my own house I do find it easy to imagine going down another route, still entertainment based but not as risky. But when I see those actors lined up on the stage to take their bow and the audience rising to their feet I know it was worth the wait for them. And it'll be worth the wait for me.
http://www.kingsspeechtheplay.com
*Chatback Comedy Club (www.chatbackcomedy.com)
I've been running a comedy club* for which, I like to think, I pick out the best of the up-and-coming comics on the circuit to perform in our shows. I'd say I'm pretty good at working out who's going to do well, many of the acts we booked a couple of years ago after seeing them at open mic nights have since gone on to perform in high profile television showcases, been signed by major agents or won comedy competitions, and doing this casting agent-esque work and producing the shows briefly filled my need for taking part in theatrical ventures.
I've also been writing for online magazines and for the theatre. My debut play Rachael's Cafe was premiered last year at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011 and it was an amazing feeling to see my words being spoken aloud by a talented actor and hearing the audience's response there in the moment. I've always been primarily a text based actor with the highest respect for the written word and it's authors, so being on the other side of the script has been an unforgettable experience.
I'm not belittling my past year or so. I've certainly learnt a lot, experienced plenty of ups and downs both in my professional and personal lives and I feel like I've completed the equivalent of a two year theatre and performance course in what I've learnt from the actors and comedians I've worked with regarding writing, acting, the voice, the body, determination, the evolution of material and the artist and too much more to mention. In terms of my own career progress and financial security I feel like I'd be a lot better off continuing down the path I've been paving these last couple of years. After a while, however, watching others progressing in their performance careers is making me feel a little antsy. That's how I realised I wasn't going to be happy without setting foot on a stage again.
Nothing has confirmed this more to me than tonight's experience at the Wyndham's Theatre. I went to see The King's Speech (The Play) and was totally captivated from start to finish. I haven't actually seen the film yet so I went knowing only the actual historical facts behind the play and with no preconceptions or lingering memories of Colin Firth's brand of stuttering King. It's really a very gentle play, it has plenty of humour and perhaps a little too much of a farcical double act courtesy of Winston Churchill and Cosmo Lang, but overall it's a very British tale about loyalty, duty, love and friendship. There were no big musical numbers, no startling technical effects, shocking revelations or interactive moments. Nothing that -for better or for worse- characterises a lot of the theatre making waves on the scene at the moment. A combination of a relatively simple set, clean and effective directing, a beautifully written script and touchingly realised characters kept myself, my Grandmother and the hundreds of people filling the theatre around us utterly enthralled.
Yes, when I'm sitting at home printing out CV after CV, waiting for the telephone to ring, watching others play roles I'm certain were written solely for me and wondering if I'll ever be able to afford my own house I do find it easy to imagine going down another route, still entertainment based but not as risky. But when I see those actors lined up on the stage to take their bow and the audience rising to their feet I know it was worth the wait for them. And it'll be worth the wait for me.
http://www.kingsspeechtheplay.com
*Chatback Comedy Club (www.chatbackcomedy.com)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I Review: Launch Night of Howlin' Comedy Club at the New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
Last night saw the launch of Howlin' Comedy Club's residency at the New Wimbledon Theatre Studio. The club, founded by the hilarious comedian Kev Orkian, stages shows featuring top class comedians and has played at various venues around London including The Troxy, The Maltings Art Centre & Theatre in St Albans, the Old Bull Arts Centre in Barnet and more. I think its safe to say that Wimbledon was thrilled to be added to Howlin's list!
With a packed out audience, a great little room and top quality acts the laughs never stopped right from the word go! The fun packed evening included, amongst other things, a card trick featuring an invisible deck, an insight into Armenian music and its history, an onstage verbal battle with Siri of iPhone 4 fame and an unrepeatable new use for 'Learn Your Alphabet' toys from Mothercare. All of the comedians were great at bantering with the audience and made sure there were plenty of opportunities for them to chat, shout out and even get involved in the fun onstage!
The Compere, Miles Crawford, is a bouncy, likeable comedian with a fantastic 'showbusiness voice' (as he himself puts it!) which provided fantastic introductions for all the other comics. The audience warmed to him immediately, lighting up every time he came back on stage with his great big smile and infectiously upbeat attitude. These qualities, combined with an unexpected and fun little rap delivered with a cheeky grin, made Miles true entertainer material.
The next two acts Phil Butler and John Moloney were exact opposites of each other. Phil was outrageous from the start, wandering on to music while contorting his face in all kinds of peculiar ways he immediately garnered laughs from the audience. He continued to use his strangely malleable face to great effect throughout his act, treating us to his attempts at Ventriloquism and his varied reactions to an assault on his talent by none other than his iPhone. Phil was high octane energy from start to end and it seemed the audience loved his playful doctoring of multiple types of technology as much as he loved doing it. John, on the other hand, provided us with a refreshing change of pace. His slow, measured style of storytelling -mostly aimed at his relationship with his cat Edward- set up his punchlines beautifully and kept the audience engaged from start to end. He revved up the pace a little towards the end with a series of one liners but it was really his unique conversational style that shone out.
Closing the show was none other than the club's founder Kev Orkian. An experienced performer, Kev absolutely stole the show with his unique blend of character and musical comedy. His stories of life as an Armenian immigrant performer in the UK with all its trials and tribulations: both professional and personal (cue an unmissable love song plus a hilarious attempt at chatting up a girl 'Essex Style') kept the audience gasping for breath through their roars of laughter. He might be a comedian but he's also fabulous at the piano and his rendition of a scratched CD version of Elton John's I'm Still Standing is not to be missed while his Boogie Woogie was the perfect upbeat end to a fun night.
Howlin's shows are the last Monday of every month. Thee next one will be on Monday 30th April at 7.30pm and features Kerry Godliman, Kevin McCarthy and more... http://www.atgtickets.com/Howlin-Comedy-Club-Tickets/8/2196/
With a packed out audience, a great little room and top quality acts the laughs never stopped right from the word go! The fun packed evening included, amongst other things, a card trick featuring an invisible deck, an insight into Armenian music and its history, an onstage verbal battle with Siri of iPhone 4 fame and an unrepeatable new use for 'Learn Your Alphabet' toys from Mothercare. All of the comedians were great at bantering with the audience and made sure there were plenty of opportunities for them to chat, shout out and even get involved in the fun onstage!
The Compere, Miles Crawford, is a bouncy, likeable comedian with a fantastic 'showbusiness voice' (as he himself puts it!) which provided fantastic introductions for all the other comics. The audience warmed to him immediately, lighting up every time he came back on stage with his great big smile and infectiously upbeat attitude. These qualities, combined with an unexpected and fun little rap delivered with a cheeky grin, made Miles true entertainer material.
The next two acts Phil Butler and John Moloney were exact opposites of each other. Phil was outrageous from the start, wandering on to music while contorting his face in all kinds of peculiar ways he immediately garnered laughs from the audience. He continued to use his strangely malleable face to great effect throughout his act, treating us to his attempts at Ventriloquism and his varied reactions to an assault on his talent by none other than his iPhone. Phil was high octane energy from start to end and it seemed the audience loved his playful doctoring of multiple types of technology as much as he loved doing it. John, on the other hand, provided us with a refreshing change of pace. His slow, measured style of storytelling -mostly aimed at his relationship with his cat Edward- set up his punchlines beautifully and kept the audience engaged from start to end. He revved up the pace a little towards the end with a series of one liners but it was really his unique conversational style that shone out.
Closing the show was none other than the club's founder Kev Orkian. An experienced performer, Kev absolutely stole the show with his unique blend of character and musical comedy. His stories of life as an Armenian immigrant performer in the UK with all its trials and tribulations: both professional and personal (cue an unmissable love song plus a hilarious attempt at chatting up a girl 'Essex Style') kept the audience gasping for breath through their roars of laughter. He might be a comedian but he's also fabulous at the piano and his rendition of a scratched CD version of Elton John's I'm Still Standing is not to be missed while his Boogie Woogie was the perfect upbeat end to a fun night.
Howlin's shows are the last Monday of every month. Thee next one will be on Monday 30th April at 7.30pm and features Kerry Godliman, Kevin McCarthy and more... http://www.atgtickets.com/Howlin-Comedy-Club-Tickets/8/2196/
Monday, March 19, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Gay Stage: LGBT - Margins or Mainstream
Hello!
Here is my second blog for The Gay Stage. It's about trying to take what is considered a strictly 'gay' play into the mainstream.
http://www.thegaystage.co.uk/culture/lgbt-theatre-in-the-mainstream-or-on-the-margins
Here is my second blog for The Gay Stage. It's about trying to take what is considered a strictly 'gay' play into the mainstream.
http://www.thegaystage.co.uk/culture/lgbt-theatre-in-the-mainstream-or-on-the-margins
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